All 4 Daytime Soaps Remain: ABC's "General Hospital" To Continue Next Season - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 01-23-2014, 12:16 AM

"General Hospital" To Continue Next Season, Keeping Daytime’s Soap Quartet Intact
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
Wednesday January 22, 2014

Just a short two years ago, "General Hospital" was staring down the barrel of cancellation as ABC took away its long-time 3 PM slot for the pricey new Katie Couric talk show. Now "Katie" is facing a demise, set to end its rocky two-season run in May, while "General Hospital" has been thriving.

ABC does not officially renew its soaps but I have learned that, not surprisingly, "General Hospital" will continue next season. That follows the announcements by CBS and NBC over the past week that they have renewed Y&R and B&B (CBS) and "Days of Our Lives" (NBC).

This means that the entire lineup of daytime dramas will remain intact as the genre experiences a resurgence.

The reasons for the resurgence are hard to pin down. Most observers attribute the ratings growth to the fact that, after so many daytime dramas went away, soap fans are migrating to the remaining series.

However, the last daytime drama to end its run on broadcast, ABC’s "One Life To Live", did so in January 2012. And last year, Prospect Park offered new seasons of both "All My Children" and "One Life To Live", so last fall, there was actually more competition, with 6 daytime dramas, the incumbents plus resurrected AMC and OLTL, than fall 2012, making the year-to-year ratings increases even more impressive.

All broadcast soaps are readily available online, making it easier for fans to keep up with the storylines. The series’ storylines themselves also have been getting positive reaction from fans, possibly helping bring in new viewers.

But while the broadcast soaps are basking in ratings glory and celebrating renewals, the prospects for their online brethren, AMC and OLTL, continue to be grim. Both stopped production a while ago as producer Prospect Park has been embroiled in a legal battle with ABC and chances for any of them coming back appear infinitely small.

http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/gene...uartet-intact/

80sTrivia · 01-25-2014, 08:05 AM

Good news. Maybe there is still some life left in the medium!!!

comedyfreak · 01-27-2014, 05:32 PM

Hurray for the soaps!!!

TeeVeeCloset · 01-27-2014, 06:01 PM

What is the longest running scripted television series still on the air today?

GENERAL HOSPITAL! April 1, 1963 50 Years Strong and beginning Year 51!

Yes The Today Show, Tonight Show, Meet The Press may all have been on longer but the key words are "scripted series" and don't get me started on "The Simpsons" bypassing "The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet" as TV's longest running primetime series. They always seem to leave out the word "animation".

bliss · 01-27-2014, 10:09 PM

God there used to be about a dozen soaps back then now only 4. Talk shows/Court shows killed the Soaps imo.

01-23-2014, 12:16 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,120	All 4 Daytime Soaps Remain: ABC's "General Hospital" To Continue Next Season *"General Hospital" To Continue Next Season, Keeping Daytime’s Soap Quartet Intact* by NELLIE ANDREEVA Wednesday January 22, 2014 Just a short two years ago, "General Hospital" was staring down the barrel of cancellation as ABC took away its long-time 3 PM slot for the pricey new Katie Couric talk show. Now "Katie" is facing a demise, set to end its rocky two-season run in May, while "General Hospital" has been thriving. ABC does not officially renew its soaps but I have learned that, not surprisingly, "General Hospital" will continue next season. That follows the announcements by CBS and NBC over the past week that they have renewed Y&R and B&B (CBS) and "Days of Our Lives" (NBC). This means that the entire lineup of daytime dramas will remain intact as the genre experiences a resurgence. The reasons for the resurgence are hard to pin down. Most observers attribute the ratings growth to the fact that, after so many daytime dramas went away, soap fans are migrating to the remaining series. However, the last daytime drama to end its run on broadcast, ABC’s "One Life To Live", did so in January 2012. And last year, Prospect Park offered new seasons of both "All My Children" and "One Life To Live", so last fall, there was actually more competition, with 6 daytime dramas, the incumbents plus resurrected AMC and OLTL, than fall 2012, making the year-to-year ratings increases even more impressive. All broadcast soaps are readily available online, making it easier for fans to keep up with the storylines. The series’ storylines themselves also have been getting positive reaction from fans, possibly helping bring in new viewers. But while the broadcast soaps are basking in ratings glory and celebrating renewals, the prospects for their online brethren, AMC and OLTL, continue to be grim. Both stopped production a while ago as producer Prospect Park has been embroiled in a legal battle with ABC and chances for any of them coming back appear infinitely small. http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/gene...uartet-intact/

01-25-2014, 08:05 AM	#2
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	Good news. Maybe there is still some life left in the medium!!!
	__________________ Perfect Gift Books for Pop Culture Fanatics: Thank You for Being a Friend: A Golden Girls Trivia Book The Bouquet Residence: A Keeping Up Appearances Trivia Book Cooking With the Golden Girls: Fun & Delicious Recipes from a Hilarious Miami Kitchen Love in the Afternoon: The Ultimate Soap Opera Trivia Book The Last Great Decade: The Ultimate 90s Trivia Book Betty White: A Celebration

01-27-2014, 05:32 PM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,059	Hurray for the soaps!!!
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01-27-2014, 06:01 PM	#4
TeeVeeCloset Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,873	A Trivia Question 99% get WRONG! On Topic What is the longest running scripted television series still on the air today? GENERAL HOSPITAL! April 1, 1963 50 Years Strong and beginning Year 51! Yes The Today Show, Tonight Show, Meet The Press may all have been on longer but the key words are "scripted series" and don't get me started on "The Simpsons" bypassing "The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet" as TV's longest running primetime series. They always seem to leave out the word "animation".
	__________________ Living near "Ozzie Nelson Drive".....

01-27-2014, 10:09 PM	#5
bliss THAT GIRL Senior Member Join Date: Apr 26, 2009 Posts: 1,000	God there used to be about a dozen soaps back then now only 4. Talk shows/Court shows killed the Soaps imo.